Fret Job

[BigE]

I just inherited a 1970 Fender Telecaster. Needs Frets bad. Do I or don't I? I'm not the guy to not play a guitar so.....

$275 for the fret job, and he is going to file out the old one as to not disturb
the original finish on the neck. Which is super cool to me. This guitar was my
Hero and favorite uncles so I don't want to mess with it to much. He's the one who bought me my Andy!

Any advise would be great

[tom]

those don't have big frets to start with, so there may not be lots to work with. is it not playing good or just looks bad? if the neck is nice and straight and the frets aren't super grooved it could be made to play good with just a dressing. if the neck is a little funny there may not be enough fret left to make it play good in which case it might make more sense to just enjoy it warts and all.

[strat56]

I'd put a replacement neck on it and put the original away. If I ever decided to sell it I'd put the original neck back on.

[ConnemaraGuitar]

I'm inclined to agree with Jack if, in fact, there's excessive fret wear. It's a little sad that in fixing a problem (in your case fret wear) you diminish the value of the instrument.

Re-fretting is a tricky business and it's difficult to avoid altering the surface of the fretboard to some degree. Not that this is a bad thing, but again, if a collector wants to buy the guitar down the road any mods will reduce the perceived value of the instrument.

If resale is not an issue, then I'd encourage you to go with stainless steel frets. More expensive (stainless is kind of hard on tools), but if you have a TAG you already know the benefits. Make sure you've checked out the luthier's work by asking to see other fret jobs he or she has done. Good time to do the BFTS upgrade as well!

[BigE]

I'm inclined to agree with Jack if, in fact, there's excessive fret wear. It's a little sad that in fixing a problem (in your case fret wear) you diminish the value of the instrument.

Re-fretting is a tricky business and it's difficult to avoid altering the surface of the fretboard to some degree. Not that this is a bad thing, but again, if a collector wants to buy the guitar down the road any mods will reduce the perceived value of the instrument.

If resale is not an issue, then I'd encourage you to go with stainless steel frets. More expensive (stainless is kind of hard on tools), but if you have a TAG you already know the benefits. Make sure you've checked out the luthier's work by asking to see other fret jobs he or she has done. Good time to do the BFTS upgrade as well!

It's funny you say that, That was the first TAG I had ever seen. Mark, the tech at the place that I hang out at had just refreted one. Besides that the guy had chops the Blue quilt was amazing. He does great work, and is crazy honest.

Thanks guys, I am going to see how the set up is when i get it back. The 5,6,and 7th fret seem almost gone. I will post a few pick next week when its home.

Thanks

[curtisjames]

Play it, enjoy it. instruments are created to make music. even truly aged played instruments are cool. the best ones tell years of stories. musical stories. I've never been a big fan of the resale issue. if your bringing respect to the instrument, for being a player. enjoy it and create great music. it's a guitar. coins are collected, guitars are played. do whatever you have to, to keep it strummed for years to come and continue its legacy.

[GuitArtMan]

I never understood the "keep frets original" mentality. Would you buy a car with the original bald tires? Frets wear out. A guitar was meant to be played. Find a competent luthier to do a fret dress or a refret and then play the guitar!

[mdrs]

My experience in dealing with vintage guitars is that the old mantra that a re-fret decreases the value of an instrument may no longer be the norm. In the last 5 years or so I've found that a well done, pro re-fret that leaves a vintage instrument playing and sounding well, will not decrease it's value.

[Pietro]

In the last 5 years or so I've found that a well done, pro re-fret that leaves a vintage instrument playing and sounding well, will not decrease it's value.

From a player's standpoint, consider this...

If a guitar is 40 years old and doesn't need a re-fret... it hasn't been played enough.

Why?

Perhaps because it's a total dog. (Many "vintage guitars" are...)

If a guitar is 20 years old and has been refretted once or twice... it's been played a lot.

Why?

Because it ROCKS.

But you can't buy that guitar because the owner isn't selling it... He's playing it...

[strat56]

Deleted......

[BigE]

I have gotten it back from it's set up and once over. Plays much better. Fret job is on hold for now. Pick up was duct taped instead of soldered. The switch was coming apart(didn't click when switching) and my guy adjusted the Jack so the cord stopped falling out. I had him put on compensated brass saddles. Kept the old ones. all and all it plays very nice and all original except the saddles.

Thanks for all the feedback

[Pietro]

I have gotten it back from it's set up and once over. Plays much better. Fret job is on hold for now. Pick up was duct taped instead of soldered. The switch was coming apart(didn't click when switching) and my guy adjusted the Jack so the cord stopped falling out. I had him put on compensated brass saddles. Kept the old ones. all and all it plays very nice and all original except the saddles.

Thanks for all the feedback

Cool... a pic is required at this point, sir...

[BigE]

from my phone. all I have so far.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/72797788@N04/6910447380/" title="0329121750b by eccmac, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5196/6910447380_86f4ab1840.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="0329121750b"></a>

[BigE]

All the Tele's

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/72797788@N04/6910447092/" title="0311121155 by eccmac, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/6910447092_d42db0319c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="0311121155"></a>